Final answer:
To determine an ionic formula, one writes down the ions with their charges and balances the positive and negative charges by adjusting subscripts to get the formula of a binary ionic compound.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine an ionic formula from a compound name, you start by selecting the corresponding ions for each element in the compound. Then, you use the ion charges to determine the subscripts necessary to ensure that the positive and negative charges balance each other out. The correct sequence from the provided options is d) Balance charges, count atoms. This approach reflects the fact that ionic compounds must be electrically neutral, so their formulas represent the simplest whole-number ratio of ions that achieves this neutrality.
When you know the name of a binary ionic compound, you write its chemical formula by listing the metal ion and its charge first, followed by the nonmetal ion and its charge. The metal cation is named first, and the nonmetal anion follows. You then determine how many of each ion are needed for the compound to be electrically neutral.
To summarize the process: For the compound FeCl2, which is called iron(II) chloride or ferrous chloride, the iron ion Fe2+ pairs with two chloride ions Cl- to ensure total charges cancel each other out and the compound is neutral. The resulting formula reflects that balance, with subscripts indicating the number of each ion in the simplest ratio.